𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢

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Ashokan Prakrit

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Etymology

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    Inherited from Sanskrit महामात्र (mahāmātra, chief, best), from महत् (mahat) +‎ मात्रा (mātrā).

    Noun

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    𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta /mahāmātta/) m

    1. mahāmāta, official, administrator
      • c. 258 BCE, Aśoka, Minor Rock Edict 1 Brahmagiri.1:
        𑀲𑀼𑀯𑀁𑀡𑀕𑀺𑀭𑀻𑀢𑁂 𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢𑀲 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸𑀡𑀁 𑀘 𑀯𑀘𑀦𑁂𑀦 𑀇𑀲𑀺𑀮𑀲𑀺 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸 𑀆𑀭𑁄𑀕𑀺𑀬𑀁 𑀯𑀢𑀯𑀺𑀬𑀸 𑀳𑁂𑀯𑀁 𑀘 𑀯𑀢𑀯𑀺𑀬𑀸
        suvaṃṇagirīte ayaputasa mahāmātāṇaṃ ca vacanena isilasi mahāmātā ārogiyaṃ vataviyā hevaṃ ca vataviyā
        • 1997 translation by Romila Thapar
          From Suvarnagiri, on the order of his Highness the Prince, and the officers: good health to the officers of Isila who are to be instructed thus.

    Declension

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    Declension of 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta)
    singular plural
    nominative 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸
    mahāmātā
    accusative
    instrumental
    dative
    ablative
    genitive 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸𑀡𑀁
    mahāmātāṇaṃ
    locative

    Alternative forms

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    Attested at Brahmagiri, Dhauli, Jatinga-Rameshwara, Jaugada, Kalsi and Siddapura.

    Dialectal forms of 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (“official”)
    Variety Location Lemmas Forms
    Central Kalsi 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta)
    East Dhauli 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta)
    Jaugada 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta)
    Northwest Shahbazgarhi 𐨨𐨱𐨨𐨟𐨿𐨪 (mahamatra)
    Mansehra 𐨨𐨱𐨨𐨟𐨿𐨪 (mahamatra)
    West Girnar 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑁆𑀭 (mahāmātra)
    South Siddapura 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta) 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸 nom.pl (mahāmātā), 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸𑀡𑀁 gen.pl (mahāmātāṇaṃ)
    Brahmagiri 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta) 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸 nom.pl (mahāmātā), 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸𑀡𑀁 gen.pl (mahāmātāṇaṃ)
    Jatinga-Rameshwara 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta) ?𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸𑀡𑀁 gen.pl (mahāmātāṇaṃ)
    Map of dialectal forms of 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (“official”)
    𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢 (mahāmāta) (8)
    𐨨𐨱𐨨𐨟𐨿𐨪 (mahamatra) (2)
    𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑁆𑀭 (mahāmātra) (1)

    Descendants

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    • Prakrit: 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀢𑁆𑀢 (mahāmatta, elephant-driver) (see there for further descendants)

    References

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    • Andersen, Paul Kent (1990) “mahāmāta-”, in Studies in the Minor Rock Edicts of Aśoka, Freiburg: Hedwig Falk, page 163
    • Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “mahāmātra”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 572